Cutting machine



Aug. 22, 1950 A. R. THOMPSON 2,519,985

CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 5 Sheets$heet 1 F'IE ALBERT IZ. Taompson;

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Aug. 22, 1950 A. R. THOMPSON 2,519,985

CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 6 a7 92 we j E I43 L z j o 2 /o9 lea gwua/wtoa- A 1.552":- RJT OMPSON Aug. 22, 1950 A. R. THOMPSON 2,519,985

CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwue/wbo'a ALBERTR.THOMPSON.

g- 22, 1950 A. R. THOMPSON 2,519,985

CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jun 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 m H F grvuemto o ALBERLT 2.. THOMPSON.

A. R. THOMPSON Aug. 22, 1950 CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 F'II3 E| Patented Aug. 22 19 50 CUTTING MACHINE Albert R. Thompson, Los Gatos, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, a

corporation of Delaware Application June 18, 1945, Serial No. 600,199

This invention relates to cutting machines and more particularly to machines for cutting food materials, such as fruits and vegetables, into pieces of uniform size and cubical shape. Machines of this type are useful in the canning industry where various fruits and vegetables are diced before being placed in the can, and the machine of the present invention is an improvement of the machine shown in United States Letterse Patent No. 2,318,904 granted to me May 11, 1943.

g In machines especially designed to be used for dicing fruits and vegetables, it has been the practice to deliver the food material to a series of knives arranged to first cut the material into slabs. The slabs then are delivered to a second series or gang of knives so arranged with respect to the slab cutting knives that the slabs are cut into elongated strips. The strips of material are then cut crosswise into pieces of cubical form. Thus, three distinct cutting operations are successively performed on the food materials. The construction and arrangement of the slab cutting knives and the strip slicing knives are such that several layers of slabs of material may be fed at the same time to the strip slicing knives. This occasionally caused clogging of the material and during the strip slicing operation this clogging sometimes resulted in the material being crushed. Also, as the result of clogging of the material, a haphazard arrangement of the strips sometimes occurred so that when the strips were fed toward the cube cutters some of the strips were so out of place that they would be cut at such an angle that diamond-shaped pieces were obtained.

' An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dicing machine in which the percentage of perfect cubes of material is considerably greater than has heretofore been obtainable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dicing machine in which the material is delivered to the slab cutter by a conical type of feeder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dicing machine in which only a single layer of slabs of material is fed to the strip slicing knives at one time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine of the above type in which the feeding or delivery of the material to the several cutters is always under control.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for dicing fruit,

10 Claims. (01. 146-124) vegetables and like materials, in which the strips cut from the slabs are adapted to remain substantially in a predetermined path and are fed to the cube cutter in such position that the number of'diamond-shaped pieces is materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved-dicing machine of the above type in which the feeding of the materials through the machine is accomplished solely by gravity and the movement of the cutters.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for producing diced fruits, vegetables, and the like, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and in which the parts susceptible to wear are so installed as to be readily accessible for repair or adjustment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutting machine of the above type which has a high capacity, due to the fact that it can be operated at high speed with a variety of food materials, without injuring or wasting the materials being handled.

I attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved cutting machine taken approximately along the line l----! of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

"Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

a Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation ofa portion of the upper electric motor showing the manner in which it is mounted on the housing of the ma chine, as viewed from the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 'l--'l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 2;

-Fig. 10 is a development of the cube cutter; and Fig.- 11 is a perspective view of one of the cube cutter blades shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, the improved machine comprises a main frame II and a, second aryframe l2 which is supported by the upper portion of the frame II, in the manner shown best in Figs. 1 and 2. The two frames H and i2 are constructed and arranged so as to enclose, as well as to provide means by which the several Working parts of the machine are supported therein.

At convenient points in the walls of the frame H suitable openings are provided, :so that. the mechanism within the frame can be easily made accessible from the outside, and these openings.

are enclosed by suitable covers which are detachably secured to the frame in the manner shown.

Mounted on the upper portionofframa i2; is a. cover {3, having formed integral therewith an upwardly extending conical portion l4 and a downwardly extending portion 1'5. The parts 14, I5 constitute a chute which is designed to guide. the materials to be cut up or diced towards the slabber mechanism, in. the manner to behereinafter more fully described.

The frame I 2. is formed with a'bottom wall l6 which extends only partly across the wholebottom of the frame so as to provide-an opening H in said bottom.

At a point in vertical.- alignment with thevertical center line of the-chute M, the bottom wall- I.6 is-formed with a depending boss I-8 which is bored, as indicated at E9, for the reception of a spindle 28, arranged vertically-in the machine in the manner shown in Fig. 1 A plurality ofribs 2l. may be formed integrally with the wall l-G andthe boss 18, so asto reinforce the bottom of the frame [2. The spindle 20 is fixedly secured in position in the boss is bymeans of a set'screw 22, as shown in Fig. 1.

Disposed in suitable spaced relationabovethe bottom wall IS of the frame [2, is an annular helicaily convoluted table :23, which is preferably formed from suitable sheet material. The

inner circular edge of the'table is-concentric with. the peripheral edge thereof and has a. suitable;

diameter whereby a relatively large opening is provided in the center of the tablefor'thespindle 20, and parts associated therewith to behereinafter described.

The body of the table- 23 isformed with afcut out portion to provide an opening or slot 24 having edges 25, 2i; extending transversely: across thetable from the peripheral edge to-the inner circular edg thereof, the. edge zfi-being arranged substantially radially with respect to-thercenter of curvature of the periphery, of thetable and the .edge 25 being parallel with the'edge 26--and spaced therefrom in-the manner. shown-inFig, 6.

The portion of the table 23 in which theslot 24 is formed overlies the opening; H in theframe l2.

From one edge 25 of. the slot 24 to; the other edge 26 of said slot, the top surface of the table 23 is disposed in a planelinclined slightly with, respect to the horizontally disposed bottom wall l6 of the frame 12. In other words thetable-23; ismade in the form of a helixof approximately one convolution extending. from the edge 25 to the edge 26.

In order to retainthe table in-helical-form, the-periphery of said tableismounted in a slot or groove 21 formed spirally in the inner wall of a ring 28, and the innercircular edge'of the table 23 is mounted in a-slot or groove. 29 formed spirallyinthe outer wall of a. ring 3.0. The. edges of; the. sheet material, of. which the-table. 23.- is formed, are connected, to the rings 28, 30 re,- er-tively, by soldering, welding, or in any other suitable manner, so that separation of the parts 23, 28 and 3D is prevented after they have been assembled. The rings 28 and 30 enclose the gap between ends 25, 26 of the table, and the grooves 2! and 29 are formed like screw threads in the rings 28 and 30, respectively, so that the parts can be screwed together during the assembly operation.

As shown in Fig. 1, provision is made on the portion of the bottom wall 16 surrounding spindle 20 for supporting the inner ring 30 of the table '23, and the outer ring 28 fits snugly against the wall of the frame I2 and rests on the bottom IS. The table is retained in fixed position in the frame I2 by means of a screw or bolt 3|, which is mounted in the frame and in the outer ring 28' of said table in the manner shown in Fig.4.

The grooves 21 and 29: in the rings 28 and 30, respectively, are so;formed that the edge 25 of the tableis disposed ina plane located asuitable distance above the plane in which the edgev C26 is disposed, so that .atthe point in said table in. which the slot.. is located, there isprovided a vertical step or \gap 43., In this way the table 23, provides an annular helically convoluted surface adapted to receive material to be cut. into slabs, the inclination of. the helix being such. that the step or gap 43. between. the ends of'the' helix provides an opening through which the slabsof material are discharged. The rings. 28 andffit close the outer and inner ends of the opening 43.

In order to, prevent sticking of the material on the table 23,.bysuction or otherwise, the upper surface of said. table isformedj with aplurality of annular grooves '32. The grooves 32' are preferably concentric with respect to the central open.- ing of the tabla/as .defined'by the inner ring. 3U, and said grooves are coextensive with the table in. that the grooves extend from edge 25 of the slot 24 and terminate at the other end at'the edge 26 of. said slot. Since the grooves 32 are separated by ribs or ridges, the ribs will support. the fruit and vegetables so that there will not be. any tendency for these materials, to adhere to the. table and interferewith the free movement of the materialthrough th machine in the. manner. to be. hereinafter. more fully described.

As shown best 'in Fig 3, adjacent to. the edge. 25, the underside ofthe. table 23. has mounted thereon and secured thereto by any suitable means'such as by'welding, a block 33. The block. 33 is tapered or wedge-shaped in cross. section, the front edge '34 of said'block which is disposed substantially in alignment with the edge 25 of the table'23 being very'thin-as comparedto the. rear edge35o'f said block, so thatthe bottom surface '36 of said block is inclined. downwardly at an angle with respect to the bottom of the table. 23, andin a. directionaway from the opening 43 between the. spaced ends or. the. helical. surface. heretofore described.

A knife 3." having a tapered. cutting edg 42.

formed lengthwise. along one face thereof, is.disposed in the space orgap formed in the. table. 23. by. slot24with the taperedportionfaccd downwardly and with. its edgeoppcsite. to.the cutting edge-42 abutting the edge 25; of .the-table 23.,. as shown. in-Fig..3.. The knife-is inserted intothe machinev through. aligned. openings. 38, 39 formed; respectively .inthe .side. wallsof the frame i Zand the outer ring 23,,the inner arcuate. end 40 of said knife being mounted or insertedinthe groove 29 in the inner ring 39.

The arrangement of the parts is such thatlateral displacement of the knife 31 is prevented in either direction. During operation of the ma-' chine the materials are moved toward the cut-. ting edge 42 of the knife, thereby keeping said' knife tightly against the edge 25 of th table 23,

and due to the manner inwhich the arcuate endv 40 of the knife is mounted in the groove 29 of the inner ring 30, the inner end of said knife cannot shift toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6.

Also, the knife 31 is retained in position in the machine from lengthwise movement by means of;

a bolt 4| which is inserted-in aligned openings in the knife and frame |2, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 6. a

When it is desired to remove the knife for the purpose of sharpening its cutting edge 42, or for replacement, the locking bolt 4| is unscrewed and a suitable tool (not shown) is attached to the knife by inserting an end of such tool in an opening 44 provided therefor in the outer end .of the knife which is conveniently disposed outside of the frame l2. By pulling the tool outwardly with respect to the machine the knife 31 can be withdrawn. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that a guideway is provided in the machine for the knife 37 so that the knife can be quickly inserted in position in the table 23 and then be retained in position by bolt 4|.

The manner in which the knife 31 is mounted in the machine is such that the upper face of the knife is disposed substantially in alignment with the upper surface of the table 23, and with the cutting edg 42 of th knife disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the edge 26 of the table. The opening between the cuttin edge 42 of the knife 3'! and the upper surface of the table at the edge 26 has a vertical width equal substantially to the thickness of the slabs of material formed .by the machine.

Suitable mechanism to be next described is provided for moving the material towards the cutting edge 42 of the knife 31.

A rotatable member 45 having a hub 46 supported by upper and lower bearings 41, 48, respectively, which are carried by the spindle 2B in the manner shown best in Fig. l, is disposed within the frame |2 in spaced relation with respect to the cover |3 and the table 23.

The hub 46 of the member 45 is formed with an external conical surface 49' which is inclined outwardly so that the lower portion of said hub is greater indiameter than the diameter of the upper portion of the hub. The construction is such that the bottom of the hub 45has a diameter approximately equal to the maximum diameter of the inner ring 30 of the table 23 so that the central opening through said table as provided by the ring 30 is substantially closed in order to prevent the passage of particles of material into or through the central opening in the table. In actual practice a slight ciearance should be provided between the bottom of the hub 46 and the upper face of the ring 30 since the hub rotates with respect to the fixed table 23, but this clearance should only be of such an amount that th rotatable hub will not contact the upper surface of the ring 30 during operation of the machine. I

Surrounding the hub 46 and disposed in suitable spaced relation thereto, is a conical wall 50 which is connected to the hub 46 by means of a plurality of radially disposed webs or vanes 5|. The hub 46, the wall 59 and the vanes or webs 5| are preferably formed of a single casting. The

6 bottom edges of the webs 5| of the member 45 are disposed substantially in alignment with the bottom of the hub 46 so that the lower portion of said webs will be disposed in suitable spaced relation with the upper surface of the table 23.

The webs 5| extend outwardly from the hub.

46 a distance equal substantially. to the distance between the outer face of the inner ring 30 and the inner face of the outer ring 28. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that the webs 5| provid means which pass over the upper surface of the table 23 in suitable spaced relation thereto for the purpose of propelling or pushing the material toward the knife 31.

Th wall 50 of the member 45 is formed with a lower portion 52 which is disposed in an-inclined direction with respect to the vertical cen--' ter line of the spindle 26, and an upper portion 53 which is inclined at a slightly different angular relationship to the vertical center line of the spindle 20 than is the inclination of the wall 52.

The portion 52 of the wall 50 inclines in a direction downwardly and outwardly from top to bottom thereof and the lower or bottom edge. 54 of said well is disposed at a considerable distance above the bottom of the webs 5|. In fact, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the lower edge 54 of the wall 50 is disposed in approximately the same plane as is the upper portion of the hub 46.

From the lower edge 54 of the wall 59 the outer edges of the webs 5| continue downwardly and outwardly to the bottom of the webs at approximately the same angle of inclination as the angle of inclination of the portion 52 of the wall 56.

Surrounding the lower portion of the member 45 is a sheet metal cover 55 of conical form, said cover being secured to the webs 5| by means of screws 56, as shown best in Fig. 9.

The portion 53 of the member 45 surrounds the portion 5 of the chute |4, being suitably spaced therefrom as shown in Fig. 2. The upper edge of the portion 53 terminates at a suitable distance below the cover l3, and the portion |5 of the chute is arranged within the portion 53.

The member 45 provides a hopper in which the materials are deposited, and the webs 5| divide the lower portion of this hopper into a plurality of compartments 51. The chute provided by the elements l4, I5 is stationary, and the hopper provided by member 45 is rotatable, and so that the materials delivered to the hopper will be readily delivered to the several compartments 51 without clogging, the upper edges 58 0f the webs 5| are formed with the contour shown best in Fig. 2, wherein it will be noted that from the top of the hub 46, the edges 58 of the webs extend outwardly in the form of an arc and then extend upwardly and outwardly at a slight angle with respect to the vertical center line of the hub 46 to the upper rim of the outer wall 50 of the member 45.

Preferably formed integral with the upper portion 53 of the wall 50 and extending outwardly from said wall, is an annular flange 59 which provides a support for a ring gear 60. The gear 60 is secured to the member 45 by bolts 6|, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The teeth of the ring gear 60 are in meshing relationship with the teeth of a gear 62 mounted on the shaft 63 of an electric motor 64.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the frame |2 is formed with guideways 65 for the lower flanged portion 66 of a bracket 61 for supporting the motor 64 in such position on the machine that the shaft '63; is vertically disposed. The :main.

bodyof the :motor 64 is secured to the upper portion ofxthe :bracket 61 by means of boltsfifiBt Themotor 64 .and its bracket 61 areslidably mounted as *a unit on the guideways '65 ina direction either'towards or away from the ring gear: 36H so that the teeth of the gears 150, 62'

cansb'e properly meshed. Another feature is that, shuuldritbe desired, the motor shaft 63' can be When the parts are adjusted to the desired:

position, the bracket 6? is fixed rigidly in place on. the frame [2 by means of clamping members 69. which are removably secured to the frame by bolts 10,. as shown best in Fig. 5.

In order to aid the operator in positioning'themotor 64 in the desired location on the frame I2, a pin H arranged to be inserted in aligned openings 12, 13 and 14, formed in one of the clamping members 69, flange 66 of the bracket i'l'andin the top of the frame l2, respectively, is provided, as shown in Fig. 5. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that the several openings 12, i3 and 14 are aligned and the pin'H inserted therein, before the clamping, members 69 are tightly secured in place. After thermotor and its bracket have thus been properly positioned, the bolts 10 should be turned down tight to fixedly secure the clamping members-69 against the flange 65 of the motor supporting.

bracket 61'. In addition to the opening 12, T3 and 14, herein shown, additional openings-may be provided so that gears of different diameters can -besubstituted for. the gear GZ-an'd the-relative: position of: the motor E4 on the frame changed accordingly.

Disposed within the frame H beneath the table ZB-inposition to receive the slabs of material discharged through the gap 43,.is a slicing mechanism whichis constructed and arranged so that the: slabs of; material are eachzsevered lengthwise intoelongated strips.

Thestrip slicingv mechanism comprises-a shaft 8!: supported by bearings 19,80,1munt6d in the frame in the. manner shown best in Fig. 4. Mounted on shafttlisa gang of circular cutting knives 82 having. their peripheries ground to. :a: tapered. cutting edge. The'circular cutting knives 82-arenot'all of the same diameter.. As canbe seen in Figs. 1, 4,.7 and 8,. the diameters of. the knives :82 are varied so that the center knife-83 of the gangwis of the least diameter and the-endi'kniveslM are-of the greatest diam.- eter; and the diameters of the intermediate knives are+graduated so that in: any .section of thegang, the-cutting, edges of the knives terminate-ini'an arc indicated 'by dotted line-85, Fig. -8. Thisigives thegangof knives-.82 a concaveperiphery which isprovided for the reception of the cube cutter -86.

The knives 282- are equally spaced apart onrthe fliaftiby'meamofwspacer disks fll. Adjacent the twoendrspacer-disks-are closure disks 88. Ilhe purpose-of the closure .disks r88- is to-prevent escape of 't-hc' material axially of the :shaft ill-as will appear. later. The-knives :82, the :spacer disks M, .-and: theclosure-disks 88, are assembled I on the shaft BI and held together as a unit by means of heads 89 and: boltssli. Th arrangement is such that the gang of rotatable knives 82. is disposed in a plane transversely -to the plane oil theslab cutting knife 31:. 1

EEXtendingtro'm -the block 33 in the-direction in which the slabs sof material travel after being discharged from the table 23, is a member 8| which is bolted to the frame H,-as indicated at .92, Figs. 2 and 4.

The member :Slisformed with an arcuate sur-- face :Qitthat has a'contour which conforms substantialiy to the contour of the peripheries of thegangof knives 82, as shown in Fig. 7, the surface '93 of said member being disposed in suitable spaced relation with respect to the peripheries. of the knives 82 so that there is-a slight clearance between the cutting edges of. the knives and: the surface 93 of the member 91. Also, as shown in Fig. 7, the member 9| hasnwidth' slightly less than: the distance between the two closure-disks-fld of the rotary strip slicer.

The construction and arrangement of the parts comprisingrtherotary strip slicer and-themember 9-l is such that-the slabs are' confined between-the end'closure disks- 88 :and the member 91 so-lthat the rotatablealcnives-fl can cut the slabs ofmaterial into strips. However, since the surface 93 of the member 9! is spaced slightly fromthe peripheries of the knives 82, the strips may not be completelysevered from the slabs of materials Furthermore, since the cutting edges of the knives -82 are tapered the material will-be held by the gang of knives 82 in contact with-thesurface 93 of the'member'9t, and since theslabs are discharged from the table 23 successively in end toend relationship, they will remain in such end. to end relationship during the strip slicing.

operation;

. The lower portion'of' the :member 9| terminates at a suitable distance above a horizontal plane intersecting the center of the-shaft 8i,- and lo-, catedibelow' saidmember=9l is a member SS-which constitutes attack for supporting the strips. oi material.

The track 95 is formed with an arcuate wall that has-aninner surface 95 of a contour which conforms substantially to the contour of the peripheries of the gang of strip slicing knives 82, as shownin-Fig. 8,.saidsurface being disposedin suitable spaced relation with respect to the peripheries of the knives 82 so that there is .aslight clearance between the cutting edges of the knives and the surface 96 of the track 95. The upperend: 9110f the track 95 is disposed below the lower end 98 ofthe member 9| so that there is a gapbetween said member andsaid. track.

A shaft I01, which is supported in the frame- H by bearings, I00, has mounted thereon and. rotatable therewith, a pressure roller comprising a plurality of circular sections or disks 102- of uniform diameter which are equally spacedapart-on the shaft IN by means of spacer disks. I93 of suitable thickness. Adjacent the two end disks I02 are outside disks or head plates HM.- Thedisks l02,..-I03 and [-04 are assembled on the shaft [9| andheldtogether as a'unit by means oi bolts I05. Y

The shaft NH is mountedin the frame H in parallel spacedirelation with respect to the'shaft 81 so that the pressure roller has a peripheral portion disposed in the space between the member 9i and the track 95. The sections or disks Ill-2 of the pressure roller are spaced apart such distances that said sections extend in betweenadjacent-knives of the gang of knives 82 and in beyond the cutting edges of said knives for engaging-the material and cause the strips to be completely severed from each other and tab:

' the surface 96 of the track member 95,

wedged between the knives 82 so that the strips I will be carried forwardly by said knives.

In order to prevent injury to the cutting edges of the knives 82 and at the same time provide a cushion for the pieces of material, the sections Figs. 2 and 4. The construction of the parts and the manner in which the stripper I01 is arranged with the rubber disks I02 is such that foreign matter will be removed from the pressure roller and fall to the bottom of the machine.

The cube cutter 88 is mounted on a shaft HI and comprises a plurality of sim lar knives H2 (four being shown in the present instance) having a special contour for a purpose which will be explained later.

As shown best in Fig. 11, each knife H2 has a low point H3 connected by a short radius curve to a po nt H4 which is connected by a long radius curve to the high point I I5. As the shaft H I rotates, the high points I I5 describe the circle H6 (Fig. 1) and due to the concave periphery of the knives 82. the high points H5 pass close to each knife 82 in the strip slicing gang, the clearance between the high points of the cube cutter 86 and the peripheries of the knives 82 being very small and uniform.

The knives II2 are also arranged helically with respect to the shaft I II, as shown in Fig. 10. Each knife H2 is secured by bolts II! to a flange H8 on a hub H9. The flanges H8 are disposed helically on the hub H0 which is keyed to the end of the shaft H I, as indicated at I20, Fig. 1. The shaft I II is su ported by bearings such as I2I in a cylindrical housing I22 secured to the frame II. At its other end the shaft III is provided with a pulley I23, which is driven by a belt I24 from a pulley I25 on the shaft of an electric motor I20.

The arrangement of the cube cutter 86 with respect to the knives 82 of the strip slicing mech-- anism is such that the concave periphery of the knives 82 is formed as though the cube cutter were a milling cutter which had actually milled an arcuate groove in the periphery of the gang of knives 82. The purpose of this is to cause the periphery of the gang of knives 82 to conform to the periphery of the cube cutter so that the cube cutter will fit into the gang of knives 82 and will cut cubes from the strips of material the instant the strips emerge from the knives 82 and while the strips are still held wedged between said knives.

To guide the strips of material from the gang of knives 82 to the cube cutter 86, a stripper I3I (Fig. 3) is provided. The stripper I3I is secured to the frame II of the machine as indicated at I32, and has a plurality of fingers which project horizontally in between the knives 82. The inner ends of the stripper fingers are formed arcuately as at'l33, to provide a closure fit with the spacer disks 81. Each stripper has an inclined edge I34 which leads to a throat formed between the bottom edge I35 of the stripper and The bettom. surface of each stripper finger is horizontal and the fingers are arranged in an arc concentric with shaft II I. The bottom surfaces are slotted along an arc concentric with shaft III, the arcuate slot appearing at I3'I in Fig. 3. It will be understood that each finger of the stripper I3I is slotted so as to provide a continuous arcuate slot to receive the high points I I5 of the cube cutter knives II 2. This portion of the mechanism has been enlarged in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the slot I31 admits the high point H5 of the cube cutter knife H2 and that the high point H5 passes close to the periphery of the slicing knife 82. Only the high point H5 of each knife II 2 enters the slot I3I. Neither the low point I I3 nor the intermediate points of each knife II 2 enter the slot I31.

As shown in Fig. 4, the frame II includes a portion I 4| which extends out to one side. The motor I25 heretofore referred to is mounted on the portion I ll of the frame II. The shaft of the motor I26 has mounted thereon a double sprocket wheel I42 which is connected by a pair of chains I43 to a double sprocket I44 keyed to a shaft I45 supported by bearings I46, I41 carried by the frame II.

Mounted on the shaft I45 is a bevel gear I48, the teeth of which are in meshing relationship with the teeth of a bevel gear I49 to an end of the shaft IOI of the pressure roller.

The end of the shaft IOI opposite to the end carrying the gear I49 has mounted thereon a gear I50 meshing with a gear I5I on shaft 8|.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the member 45 is operated by motor 64 to cut the slabs of material and that the strip slicing knives 82, the pressure roll provided by the rubber disks I02 and the cube cutter knives II2 are operated by motor I25. There is no intricate timing of parts anywhere in the machine, so that the slipping of a gear cannot affect the operation of the machine as a whole. It will be noted that all of the knives of the machine are given firm support so that they have great strength and rigidity and are not apt to break easily. The member 45 feeds the slabs of material through the slabber and the knives 82 and rubber disks I02 feed the material toward the cube cutter knives II 2 due to the fact that the strips of material are wedged between the knives 82, the strippers being employed to guide the material so that no supplementary feeders or conveyors are required.

The slabs of materials which pass through the step or opening 43 in the table 23 follow a somewhat arcuate course or path around the surfaces 93, 96, and by the time the slabs of material have been sliced into strips and are ready to be diced by the cube cutter knives II 2, they will have followed a substantially semi-circular course in which the several pieces of material are maintained in end to end, relationship as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 3.

In operation, and for purpose of illustration, let it be assumed that the hopper 45 contains a quantity of peaches, or the like, which have been cut into halves and otherwise prepared for dicing, the peaches being disposed in the several compartments of the hopper provided by the vanes 5I. In Fig. 3, one piece I38 of a peach is shown by broken lines on the lower portion of the table 23 in position against the cutting edge 42 of the knife, and another piece I39 of a peach is shown by broken lines on the higher portion of the table.

Due to the rotary '-rnovement imparted to the hoppert'fi by its "driving mechanism, "a vane '51 w'illpush the ,piece i'3-8'pastthe knife?! and' the knife will detach a'slab therefrom, such as is *indicated at I40.

As soon as the piece I38 ismovecl into "en- 'gagement with the knife -3|,'the lower portion "thereof, which subsequently "becomes the 'slab 1'40, 'isdirected by the underside of the knifeand "the downwardly inclined surface 36 of the block 1 *fl'toward the cutting edgesof the gang ofknives 2. As the knives B2 cut-into the "slab I40 to form strips they drawthe slab forwardly along the curved surface 93 of the member "iii. In

this way the s'labds moved forwardlyfrom the piece [38 by the "combined pushing action 'of vane and the pulling action of the knives 82, -until -the slab'llll is completely severed or detached fromthe piece I38. 'The'remaining-pieee of ;peach which isnow thinner than the-npiece ""138 then moves alongthe upper surface ofthe knife 3'! and the top of the table 23, as indicated "at- I39. The thinner piece 139 is then pushed by "vane 5| around the helically'convoluted{table '23 until it is again brought into engagement with .the knife 31 where the operation'of cuttinga slab therefrom is'repeated. In'thisway apiece of material is -moved by "the hopper repeatedly into engagement with the knife 3'! until *the piece has been-entirelyout into slabs.

"Due to the fact that the-cutting edges of the knives 82 are ground to a taper, the plurality of strips'into which the'knives 82'cut a'slab,willbe wedged between said knives and will be carried 'thereby around to the position indicated at "I 53,

The disk 102 of the pressure roller now engage the strips of material and causethe-strips *tobe completely severed'from each other and to 'be'wedged-tighter in between the "knives 82, as

indicated at I54, so"thatthe strips'willbe carried "forwardly 'by said knives toward' the stripper "I=he strips of material WiII 'bB arranged in-end-to end relationship during movement 'o'f 'the material around the member 81 and' trackfi, as shown-"by -broken lines inTigf3.

The gang or strips oi material which have-been severed from the slab next enter the throat r and :are-carried by the'knives-fl' into contact with the under surface '135 of .the stripper l3l. PAs'the knives 82 continue to 'rotate;theistrips'will be f ed 1 4 :thereby along the surface 435 and presented =to Ith'e -cube cutter in' the position indicated at I 55, Fig. 3. Due to the rotation of the knives :82," the istrips I55 are heldin contact .withithe under sur- -1ace I35 of "the stripper and are fed -:outwardly 'alongthis surface. The surface 135 is made-perpendicular to the plane :of the 'cube lcutter .so that the cut of the knife I I2 Will be at right angles to the length of the strips. 'Furthermore due'to the fact that the gang of strips 155 are still *we'dgedinbetween the knives I82, they are pre- "vented from: moving laterally, and the .-:strips are fed out through the channel,*the top:o'f*-which"is -'the underside of the "stripper, and thetwo-side walls of which'are' the circular knivesflZ. As the strips of material emerge from -ethese channels :cub'es are cut from them by the cube cutterknives H'Z; and'dropfrom theknife t [2 into a discharge spoutf52.

"The cube cutter" is designedttolbringi its :nutting edges as close as possible to the edges of the knives-82' to'take'full advantageof the fact that Y the material is being held against :lateral'tlisplace- *ment because it is wedged between the 'slicing knives. It has already been explained that the periphery of the gang of-knives 82 is "concave to fit the circular path*l'f6, Fig. 1,-of the-highpoints N5 'of the cube 'cutter knives. In-addition; the intermediate points "of the cube cutter knives "are broughtasclose as possible to' the kiiives 82, so that the strips will be cut uniformly and accurately in'to cubes.

While I have described a particular embodiment-of the present inventionfiit will *be obvious that various changes and-modifications may =be =made in the details 'thereof' 'without departing from-the spiritof the present invention and the scope of "the-appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireto"secure 'byiLetters Patent is:

1. "Acuttingmachine'df the character deserlbed comprising in combination'atable shape'd to-pm- Wide an annular material supporting surface for-med-asa helix having a proximately one canvolutionjthe en'ds of the' hlix being spacedapart vertically 'to provide an opening through which the material is'discharge'd from the table, =a knii'e moun'ted' inthe table -and"having a cutting -edge disposed substantiallyv radially withmespectio the center ofcurvature-of the tablegsaid knite'bemg disposed at the top of the space"betweeni'the ends of the helix, an 'opening *tonnedwentrally throug'h'said tablepa spindle extending -vertically "through said opening andbeing arranged 1m spaced relation to the want: the opening, a

'conical hopper, said hopper having whub with a conical exterior-and an exterionwall arranged" in spaced'rlation to saidhub and connected thereto "by a-pluralityof ralliallyfiisposed-vanes'the exterior' of said hub and the exterior wall r 01. mm

hopper'being angularlyidisposed with respectfito being "arranged to move material fin said mnpartmentstoward 'said'knife, and means for m- ;tatingsai'd hopper.

2. Acuttingmachinepfthe charactertdesc'ribed comprising in combination aheiicalrsurmcedor "supporting 'materiaLeSaid :helical :surface :having annular :corrugations ithereon, fthe ends of the "'helicalsurface "being :axially spaced-apart tozpro- "videra step in-the'helicalzsurface "through which ?the material is discharged, =a knifemountediflush with the corrugated surfaceiforrcuttingthema :terialintoslabs havingawpredetermined thickness, :and aldownwardly flaring conicalihopper'mounted ."for rotationwiththe'larger:endotthe hopper ad- ."jacentto the-helical surface, xaid hopper-shaving "radial arms for vdividmgthevinteriorrofthehopper -into:,material"receiving compartments tor eon- -finingchargesrof*material-arid for advancing the material toward said knife to cuhthematerialinio slabs.

3. A cutting. machine ofthexharaoter described comprising in pombination .a :member having :9. "helicakmaterial supportingrsurface; the-adjacent ends of the helical surface "being :spaced 1 apart axially toprovideiasteprinathe surface through which the material-isdischarged,-.a knife-mounted iifl'the' member fiush'withnthe ihelical surface. for

cutting the material "into slabs :having -.-a predeztermined :thickness, "and 5a -.downwardly flaring conicalhopper mounted -.for rotation with :the larger .end of thehopper: disposed. adjacent-to .the

13 helical surface of said member, said hopper having means formed therein for dividing the material into separate lots and for advancing the material toward said knife whereby the material is cut into slabs.

4. In a machine for cutting food material into 'slabs, a stationary table having a stepped food supporting surface, a knife mounted at the step of said surface, a rotatable hopper overlying the table, said hopper having an exterior wall formed with a conical interior surface angularl dis- 1 posed downwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the hopper, a series of substantially vertically disposed vanes within the hopper, said vanes dividing the hopper into a plurality of material receiving compartments, said vanes being arranged to move material in said compartments toward said knife, means for support ng said hopper for rotation about a vertical axis, and means for rotating the hopp r whereby the material within the hopper is pressed down against the table by the combined action of centrifugal force and the conical interior surface of the exterior wall of the hopper.

5. In a machine for cutting food material into slabs, a stationary table having an annular inclined surface formed with a vertically disposed Step, said step having an opening therein through which material is discharged from the table, a

knife mounted in the table at the top of the step,

a rotatable conical hopper overlying the table, said hopper having a hub with a conical exterior and an exterior wall having a conical interior surface arranged in spaced relation to said hub and connected thereto by a plurality of vanes which divide the hopper into a pluralit of material receiving compartments, the exterior of said hub and the conical interior surface of the exterior wall of said hopper being angularly disposed with respect to each other, means for delivering material toward the hub of the hopper, means for supporting said hopper for rotation, and means for rotating the hopper whereby the material within the hopper under the influence of centrifugal force tending to move the material away from the hub is pressed down against the table by the combined action of centrifugal force and the conical interior surface of the exterior wall of the hopper.

6. In a machine for cutting food material into slabs, a stationary table having a helically convoluted surface to receive material to be cut, the inclination of the helix being such as to provide a step in the surface of the table at the ends of the helix, a knife mounted in the table and disposed at the top of the step, a rotatable conical hopper overlying the table, said hopper having a hub with a conical exterior and an exterior wall having a conical interior surface arranged in spaced relation to said hub and connected thereto by a plurality of radially disposed vanes dividing the hopper into a plurality of material receiving compartments, the exterior of said hub and the conical interior surface of the exterior wall of said hopper being angularly disposed downwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the hopper, the bottom of said hopper covering an annular zone of said stationary table with the bottom of said exterior wall disposed in proximity to the periphery of said table, means for supporting said hopper for rotation about a vertical axis, said vanes being arranged to move material in said compartments toward said knife, and means for rotating the hopper, whereby the material is urged toward the helical surface of the 14 7 table by the combined action of centrifugal force and inclined interior surface of the exterior wall of said hopper.

7. A cutting machine of the character described comprising in combination a table shaped to provide a material supporting surface formed as a helix having approximately one convolution, a knife mounted in the table and disposed at the top of the space between the ends of the helix, a rotatable hopper overlying said table, said hopper having a hub and an exterior wall having an interior surface inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical center line of the hopper and sloping downwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of the hopper, a plurality of radiall disposed vertical vanes connecting the exterior wall and the hub to divide the hopper into a plurality of material receiving compartments, said vanes being arranged to move material confined in the compartments of said hopper along the helical surface of the table toward said knife, means for rotatably supporting said hopper, and means for rotating the hopper whereby the material is urged toward the helical surface of said table by the combined action of centrifugal force and the inclined surface of the etxerior wall of said hopper.

8. A cutting machine of the character described comprising a stationar table shaped to provide an annular material supporting surface formed as a helix having approximately one convolution, the ends of the helix being vertically spaced apart to provide an opening through which the material is discharged from the table, a knife fixedly mounted in the table and disposed at the top of the space between the ends of the helix, a rotatable hopper overlying said table, said hopper having a conical hub and an exterior wall spaced from the hub, said hub having a side wall which is inclined outwardly and downwardly from the top of the hub, said exterior wall of the hopper extending above the top of the hub and having an interior surface sloping downwardl and outwardly from the upper portion of the hopper so that the upper portion of the hopper provides a narrow neck which is disposed in a plane above the top of the hub, a plurality of radially disposed vanes connecting the exterior wall to the hub to divide the hopper into a plurality of material receiving compartments, said vanes having an upper edge portion extending from the top of the hub upwardly to the neck of the hopper, means for rotating the hopper, and a, stationary conical material receiving member arranged above the rotatable hopper, said stationary member having an inner surface slop ng downwardly and inwardly from the upper portion thereof and terminating within the neck of the rotatable hopper whereby the material will be delivered through the narrow neck of the rotatable hopper and will be directed toward the top of the hub and will thence be directed by the inclined surface of said hub downwardly toward the helical surface of said table, the inclined inner surface of the exterior wall of said rotatable hopper being arranged to direct the material in the several compartments downwardl toward the helical surface of said table.

9. In a machine for cutting food material into slabs, a stationary table having a stepped food supporting surface, a knife mounted at the step of said surface, a downwardly and outwardly flared rotatable hopper overlying the table, said hopper having a narrow upper neck through which material is introduced into the hopper,

unman Jneans for supporting :the hopper aforimtation eaboutra vertical axis,;a:ringggearfixedlyieecured to the neck of the hopper, and. power'meansepermtively connected to said "ring gear .-l )y' which rotative force is imparted -.to 1 said hopper.

.10. In-a machine forzcuttingefoodmateriaL into *zSlflbS, a'horizontally disposed-helical cutting-.table, 7a downwardly and outwardly flared :rotatabie zhnpper overlying the table, saidhopper'having .amarrow upper neck=through which tmaterial -.is adapted to be introduced; toward the central poritiontoi thehopper,-and acmaterial receiving mem- .ber arranged above the rotatabie :h'opper, t-said :i'member having .a vconstricted discharge :opening formed ltherein and disposed within the neck of .i

thezr0tatab1e .hopper whereby -the :material will be-discharged from saidtmemberet a pointbeloW :therim of the'neckof the rotatable hopper.

; ALBERT (R. IIHQMPSGN.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of .Iecordfln the file of this :patent:

- Number Lewis -J'Oz'zt. 19,1015 Bekner 'Oct. '1, 1918 Tuck *May' 1-3,. 1919 "Watson Deci-"G, 1932 Jenkins "Apr. 331984 Ferry Apr."1 7, 1fl4 ISkliris June 22, 138! Berkman Feb. 111818 Urschel "41ml. 1631940 Bauer 1360. 331,40 Urschel et-al May 20,:1941 "Thompson May 11,1043 .Urschlebal. May 16,3944

FOREIGN. BATENTS Comxbry :Date

Germany Jan. :18,;-1916 -Great-Britain Apr. 1,3926 

